Double Bass Best double bass for > $125K ???

[Don Hergert]

I know, I've got too much time on my hands and I'll never be in this market for real, but I'm actually seriously curious about where people find double basses of this caliber, and what features determine that a double bass is worth this much... So it's a semi-serious question.

Thanks for any "close to on-target" answers, funny or not.

 

[Wasnex]

I know, I've got too much time on my hands and I'll never be in this market for real, but I'm actually seriously curious about where people find double basses of this caliber, and what features determine that a double bass is worth this much... So it's a semi-serious question.

Thanks for any "close to on-target" answers, funny or not.

There is a bass listed for $100K here: International Society of Bassists - Basses for Sale

Notice the date made and maker.

I used to take lessons from the seller. Great player and great teacher IMHO.

 

[User4843936]

Humans are great at telling themselves and others about the ‘romance’ and history of instruments, and look with their imaginations to find stories and financial investments as well as searching for functional sound-makers for an audience’s ears.

No reason why any part of that equation has to include or exclude another. Of course, beautiful old instruments like the one in the aforementioned ISB ad are rare and can sound pretty well unbelievable in the right hands.

According to individual criteria when looking for an instrument, it can sometimes be a case of finding a desirable instrument first and worrying about the funds later. Highly prized, great sounding instruments being owned by an orchestra can serve as a draw for talented players with limited budgets to want to try to become members of that group’s bass section, besides anything else. This seems to have been at least part of the rationale behind a couple of six-figure purchases made by one of the groups here in London recently.

T&G Martin and the Contrabass Shoppe are main guys I can think of who handle instruments in the six figure price bracket in the UK.

 

[LaFaro01]

What about the "Haden"?
Robertson & Sons Violin Shop - Bass Inventory
A friend of mine hat the chance to play this instrument "a long time ago" sitting Charlie Haden next to him and was really overwhelmed by the sound, filling the whole room, as he said.. so goes his saying at least
and I know about Martin Wind playing this bass some time ago, who seemed to be deeply impressed also...
Beyond that it's some sort of "musical monument"...

 

[Rama Temmink]

There are some well crafted beauties out there alright, that is something a fool would disagree with!

In any case we will just have to do with our own personal instruments... is that not enough to be content with?

Having visited several countries where it is, let us say, less "coordinated" I can truly say that it truly is a blessing to be able to play any (emphasis on the word "any") Contrabas.

God bless

 

[Rama Temmink]

P.S. To answer your question; the one that does not fall apart.

 

[neddyrow]

here: International Society of Bassists - Basses for Sale

i'd love to play that 1860s german flatback! bet it is a cannon! and a price i can say is more than fair. i'd don't have 12k for a bass but if i did...

once you break about $15-20k for a bass, the rest of the money is paying for its history.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I don’t mess around at that level, but my understanding is that many of the instruments in that range of value change hands from teacher to student upon retirement, often for free or some nominal cost, and never hit the commercial market.

Friend of mine has a great story about turning down the chance to be the custodian of an ancient Italian bass because her calling was to play the blues on instruments she found in pawn shops, rather than play chamber music on a pedigreed instrument.

 

[jmlee]

What about the "Haden"?
Robertson & Sons Violin Shop - Bass Inventory
A friend of mine hat the chance to play this instrument "a long time ago" sitting Charlie Haden next to him and was really overwhelmed by the sound, filling the whole room, as he said.. so goes his saying at least
and I know about Martin Wind playing this bass some time ago, who seemed to be deeply impressed also...
Beyond that it's some sort of "musical monument"...

Wish that Charlie was still around to play it.

 

[slappahdabass]

once you break about $15-20k for a bass, the rest of the money is paying for its history.

maybe 20 years ago...
most new basses from reputable makers will run you $25k+. most old basses below $40k are factory/workshop basses or lesser examples of a maker's work.

 

[Neon Scribe]

This is a cello story, not a bass story, but still. A good friend of mine is a cellist, a touring soloist. He plays an 18th century Italian instrument that he could never afford to buy. I'm not sure of the exact value, but we are talking at least an order of magnitude higher than your price point. Instruments like this belong to investors, who expect their value to increase. One of the ways an instrument like this holds its value is by being used by the best players in the world. Thus, my friend gets to play it. If the owner decides to sell it, he can try to make a similar arrangement with the new owner. I don't know all of the details of this arrangement, but I don't think there is any exchange of money between the parties. I believe my friend is responsible for maintenance of the instrument. I know that there is a highly specialized insurance policy on the instrument. He very nearly can't let it out of his sight. He isn't allowed to put it in the trunk of a car; it has to ride with the passengers. It never goes in the baggage hold on airplanes; when he travels to play a concert, the cello goes in the seat next to him in first class, paid for by the concert promoter, of course. The cello has its own frequent flyer account. My friend is saving up to have a bow custom made. He will spend more for that bow than most of us will ever spend on a double bass. He will likely never own a cello of his own.

 

[marcox]

"The cello has its own frequent flyer account."

I am confident I will not read a better sentence today.

 

[jthisdell]

"The cello has its own frequent flyer account."

I am confident I will not read a better sentence today.

Who gets the cello's peanuts?

 

[Bruce Calin]

I played a radio show with violinist Nigel Kennedy in the 80's. He played a Strad that he didn't own. He also literally never let it out of his sight. He wouldn't discuss anything relating to value, just that it was privately owned. I also remember an advertisement for an auction sale in England in the old Double Bassist magazine for some high-pedigree basses that had high reserves on them. In a later issue of the same mag, there was a letter claiming that the prices had been artificially inflated and blamed the auction house. I wouldn't have thought this went on, but in the high-end world who knows?

 

[Sean Riddle]

I got to play the Gagliano bass John Patitucci has now when it was LA Bass Works a few years ago. My heart dropped when I learned of the price tag of $200,000. But my god was that bass amazing. The only way to describe it was that it sounded like a tree.

 

[Phil Rowan]

I got to play the Gagliano bass John Patitucci has now when it was LA Bass Works a few years ago. My heart dropped when I learned of the price tag of $200,000. But my god was that bass amazing. The only way to describe it was that it sounded like a tree.

I got to play a Gagliano at the Gage shop some time back. Didn’t bother/dare ask what it was going for, but I know just what you mean re: it sounding like a tree. Pretty unbelievable instrument.

 

[Papageno]

when he travels to play a concert, the cello goes in the seat next to him in first class, paid for by the concert promoter, of course. The cello has its own frequent flyer account.

My cello would like a glass of champagne; I shall take the vintaged cognac...

 

[james condino]

I know you are also a mandolin player; you might better shopping for a Lloyd Loar.

I've been fortunate to be able to play & study a lot of basses in these price points. As much as I wanted to feel like I should want them more than anything in life, the reality was much different. I liked some bodies; some fit me terrible and were very difficult to get around. I liked some necks; others not at all. I liked some voices- some are amazing in that they don't pitz at all, but the angels sing when you touch them with a bow. Others are in nice condition; some are literally a 250 year old eggshell with hundreds of repairs- I was afraid to touch it and even play it in a climate controlled room.

As such, I've never found one of those ancient old beasts that had all of the things I would want in order to feel like it was the one for me, regardless of my wallet. I have found that combination in many mid priced basses where everything worked exceptionally well for me and I could somehow justify the price if needed.

I've played lots of Lloyd Loars (approx. 30 total, with 1/3 that I liked) that excited me and worked great in every aspect! No matter what high dollar bass I buy, the reality will still be just me & two other bass nerds in the audience that notice.....I'd rather buy a 1937 D18 + a nice vintage muscle car....or move to Costa Rica for a decade!

 

[Bruce Calin]

At an ISB convention a few years back I heard an obviously accomplished player playing a bass that sounded amazing. I complimented him and mentioned how great the bass sounded. I believe it was a Ceruti. His reply: "It should. They're asking $325,000."

 

[Bruce Calin]

At the same convention as the Ceruti,a fire alarm(luckily false) went off in the building where a lot of the high-end instruments were. It was interesting to see which basses were grabbed and brought out first. It did seem to be most of the older ones as far as I could tell. There happened to be a youngster playing for the young soloist competition at the time and the alarm didn't distract him at all. That was real focus.